Pateryn has been with the Canadiens organization since being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs back in 2008 for Mikhail Grabovski. The Leafs originally drafted the defenseman in the fifth round of the 2008 NHL Draft. The 26-year-old has one year left on his contract at a cap hit of $800 thousand dollars.

Before the Sterling Heights, Michigan native turned pro, he played four years of NCAA Division 1 hockey for the University of Michigan Wolverines. Pateryn made his NHL debut in 2012-2013.

He hasn’t developed into the big shutdown defenseman that some thought he would be. Pateryn has only dressed for a grand total of 79 games the past three seasons. In this campaign he has one goal for six points in 24 games and only averages around 14 and a half minutes per contest. He’s been a consistent healthy scratch for the Canadiens.

What the Stars are getting is a big (6’2), strong, stay at home defenseman, who is responsible and smart in his own zone. Sometimes players need a fresh start and this could the perfect situation for Pateryn.

Jordie Benn

Jordie Benn, 29, is the brother of Stars superstar Jamie Benn. The left-handed defenceman has played in 58 games with the Stars this year, scoring two goals and adding 13 assists. He has played in 302 career games with 11 goals and 60 assists for 71 career points.

Benn is signed for this season, plus two more at a $1.1 million cap hit. He also is a 6’2″ defenceman who is best suited for the bottom pairing. Benn has averaged 18:37 per game for the Stars this season, and has put up a 49.6% CorsiFor (-1.3 relative) and 50% Fenwick For (-1.0 relative). He has mainly been used in defensive situations with more defensive zone starts than offensive zone ones.

Graduated from the College of Sports Media. Contributor for Last Word on Sports (CFL) and Last Word on Hockey. Worked for the Oakville Blades (OJHL), UOFT Varsity Blues, Ironheads (OJBLL), and Laurier Golden Hawks.